Conductive terminal and the electrical connector using the conductive terminal

ABSTRACT

A conductive terminal and the electrical connector using the conductive terminal, the conductive terminal is received in a terminal channel defined in an insulative housing of the electrical connector which can transmit signal between an electronic component and a circuit board. The conductive terminal has a first wall, a second wall connecting with the first wall in a certain angle and a third wall connecting with the second wall in a certain angle and opposite to the first wall. The conductive terminal forms a mounting portion connecting with the solder ball. The mounting portion comprises a horizontal portion extending and bending from end of the first wall toward the third wall, and a vertical portion of the third wall and corresponding to the horizontal portion in a certain angle. The horizontal portion and the vertical portion adhere to the solder ball in two different directions so as to steadily locate the solder ball.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a conductive terminal and,more particularly, to a conductive terminal used in an electricalconnector which can transit signals between an electronic component anda circuit board via a solder ball connected with the circuit board.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1 to 3, as disclosed in T.W. patent application No.087216147, publication No. 392975, an electrical connector 1 is a zeroinsertion force (“ZIF”) electrical connector for electricallyinterconnecting a central processing unit (“CPU”) and a mainboard usedin computer device. The electrical connector 1 comprises an insulativehousing 10 and a plurality of conductive terminals 2. Each of theconductive terminals 2 electrically connects with the circuit board 30through surface mounting technology (“SMT”) by pre-setting a solder ball23 onto an end thereof.

The insulative housing 10 of the electrical connector 1 has a mountingsurface 12 on the bottom surface thereof which is positioned proximateto the circuit board 30 and a receiving surface 11 on the top surfacethereof for supporting the electronic component. The insulative housing10 also defines a plurality of through holes 13 extending between themounting surface 12 and the receiving surface 11.

Each of the conductive terminals 2 respectively received in thecorresponding through holes 13 forms a contact portion 20 extendingtoward the receiving surface 11 and an end portion 21 opposite extendingto the mounting surface 12. The end portion 21 has a bottom surface 22for soldering with the corresponding solder ball 23.

To improve the success rate of pre-setting the solder ball 23 onto theend portion 21 of the conductive terminals 2, the end portion 21 forms adisk-shape plane approximately 90 degrees bending to the contact portion20 so that the end portion 21 and the mounting surface 12 of theinsulative housing 10 are approximately located in the same plane. Theplane disk-shape end portion 21 provides a larger area of pre-settingthe solder ball 23 so as to steadily pre-set the solder ball 23. Inaddition, a plurality of protrusions 25 is integrity extending from theside of the end portion 21 for preventing the solder ball 23 droppingfrom the bottom surface 22 of the end portion 21.

To applying the SMT of pre-setting the solder ball 23, one end of theconductive terminal 2 must have a structure of easily locating andconnecting the solder ball 23. The above method is only one of theresolving schemes with which the end portion of the conductive terminal2 has different structures to locate and connect the solder ball 23. Thepresent invention provides an improved conductive terminal to locate andconnect the solder ball 23.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a conductive terminalthat easily locates a solder ball and an electrical connector using theconductive terminals.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a conductiveterminal enhancing steadiness of soldering with a solder ball.

The conductive terminals of the present invention are received in aplurality of terminal channels of an insulative housing of theelectrical connector which can t signal between an electronic componentand a circuit board. The conductive terminal has a first wall, a secondwall connecting with the first wall in a certain angle and a third wallconnecting with the second wall in a certain angle and opposite to thefirst wall. The conductive terminal forms a contact portion electricallyconnecting with the electronic component and a mounting portionelectrically connecting with the circuit board via the solder ball. Themounting portion comprises a horizontal portion extending and bendingfrom one end of the first wall toward the third wall, and an verticalportion on the third wall and corresponding to the horizontal portion ina certain angle. The horizontal portion and the vertical portion adhereto the solder ball in two different directions so as to steadily locatethe solder ball.

A gap is defined between the vertical portion and a side face of thehorizontal portion near the vertical portion. When the solder ballmelts, tin flows into the gap so as to enhance steadiness of solderingbetween the solder ball and the mounting portion.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of this invention which are believed to be novel are setforth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, togetherwith its objects and the advantages thereof, may be best understood byreference to the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify likeelements in the figures and in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view illustrating a conventionalelectrical connector,

FIG. 2 is a side partial sectional view illustrating of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a conductive terminal of theconventional electrical connector of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a conductive terminal inserting into aninsulative housing of the present invention from under the insulativehousing;

FIG. 5 is a perspective-assembled view of FIG. 4 illustrating a solderball located in a mounting portion of the conductive terminal of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a conductive terminal inserting into aninsulative housing of the present invention from the above of theinsulative housing; and

FIG. 7 is a side view of the solder ball melting and connecting with theconductive terminal of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

While the invention may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms,there is shown in the drawings, and herein will be described in detail,a specific embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosureis to be considered an exemplification of the principles of theinvention, and is not intended to limit the invention to that asillustrated and described herein.

Referring now to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, a conductive terminal 4 of thepresent invention used in an electrical connector is similar with theprior art and connects between an electronic component (not shown) and acircuit board (not shown). The conductive terminal 4 pre-sets a solderball 6 onto an end thereof.

The electrical connector comprises an insulative housing 5 and aplurality of conductive terminals 4.

The insulative housing 5 has a mounting surface 51 which is positionedproximate to the circuit board (such as motherboard of a computer) and areceiving surface 52 for supporting the electronic component (such ascentral processing unit, CPU). The insulative housing 5 defines aplurality of terminal channels 53 extending through the mounting surface51 and the receiving surface 52. To easily illuminate, it is drawn inthe FIGS. that the insulative housing 5 has a single terminal channel53.

Each conductive terminal 4 is respectively received in the correspondingterminal channels 53. The conductive terminal 4 has a first wall 41, asecond wall 42 connecting with one side of the first wall 41 in anapproximately 90 degrees angle and a third wall 43 connecting with theother side of the second wall 42 in an approximately 90 degrees angleand opposite to the first wall 41 in some distance. The connectingcorner of the first wall 41 and the second wall 42 defines a pluralityof hollows 44 so as to make the connecting corner of the first wall 41and the second wall 42 have lower intensity and the first wall 41 easilybend along the hollows 44. Similarly, the connecting corner of the thirdwall 43 and the second wall 42 defines a plurality of hollows 44 so asto make the third wall 43 easily bend along the hollows 44 to the secondwall 42. When the conductive terminal 4 is respectively received in thecorresponding terminal channel 53, one end of the conductive terminal 4adjacent to the mounting surface 51 forms a mounting portion 401 and theopposite end to the mounting portion 401 of the conductive terminal 4adjacent to the receiving surface 52 forms a contact portion 402.

The mounting portion 401 comprises a horizontal portion 45 extending andbending in an approximately 90 degrees from one end of the first wall 41adjacent to the mounting surface 51 toward the third wall 43, and anvertical portion 46 extending from the third wall 43 and correspondingto the horizontal portion 45 in an approximately 90 degrees angle.Referring to FIG. 5, the horizontal portion 45 and the mounting surface51 of the insulative housing 5 are approximately in a same plane. Andthe vertical portion 46 is extending out of the mounting surface 51 andforms a L-shaped structure with the horizontal portion 45 to locate thesolder ball 6.

The contact portion 402 comprises a first spring arm 47 formed on oneside of the first wall 41 adjacent to the receiving surface 52 and asecond spring arm 48 formed on one side of the second wall 42 adjacentto the receiving surface 52. A free end of the first spring arm 47 and afree end of the second spring arm 48 are adjacent to form a springreceiving structure to provide an insert arm of an electrical component(not shown) inserting. Because the contact portion 402 is not the pointof novelty of the present invention and its principle of electricallyconnecting is similar with a corresponding structure of the conductiveterminal of the ZIF electrical connector (not shown), here it is notilluminated in detail.

Referring to FIG. 4 to FIG. 6, in assembly, the conductive terminal 4can insert the corresponding terminal channels 53 of the insulativehousing 5 from the mounting surface 51 of the insulative housing 5(referring to FIG. 4) and the conductive terminal 4 can also insert thecorresponding terminal channels 53 of the insulative housing 5 from thereceiving surface 52 of the insulative housing 5 (referring to FIG. 6).When the conductive terminal 4 can insert the corresponding terminalchannels 53 of the insulative housing 5 from the mounting surface 51 ofthe insulative housing 5, the vertical portion 46 of the mountingportion 401 of the conductive terminal 4 can hold the insertingconductive terminal 4. Contrary, when the conductive terminal 4 can alsoinsert the corresponding terminal channels 53 of the insulative housing5 from the receiving surface 52 of the insulative housing 5, one end ofthe second wall 42 forms a handle 49 corresponding to the first springarm 47 and the second spring arm 48 to hold the inserting conductiveterminal 4.

Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the mounting portion 401 of theconductive terminal 4 locates the solder ball 6 by its horizontalportion 45 and vertical portion 46. When the solder ball 6 contacts thesurface of the horizontal portion 45, the vertical portion 46 preventsthe solder ball 6 moving along the extending direction of the horizontalportion 45 because the vertical portion 46 is in an approximately 90degrees and forms a L-shaped structure with the horizontal portion 45.Therefore, when the solder ball 6 is put into the L-shape space definedby the horizontal portion 45 and the vertical portion 46, the solderball 6 respectively connects the horizontal portion 45 and the verticalportion 46, and locates by them in two different directions. So thesolder ball 6 need not accurately align the surface of the horizontalportion 45 and easily to locate.

In addition, to improve veracity of the solder ball 6 aligning, thehorizontal portion 45 defines a recess 451. When the solder ball 6connects with the horizontal portion 45, the solder ball 6 is receivedin the recess 451 of the horizontal portion 45 and enhances steadinessof locating the solder ball 6.

Referring to FIG. 7, a gap 452 is defined between the vertical portion46 and a side face of the horizontal portion 45 near the verticalportion 46. When the solder ball 6 melts, tin flows into the gap 452 sothat the solder ball 6 not only can respectively solder with thesurfaces of the horizontal portion 45 and the vertical portion 46 in twodifferent directions but also some tin of the solder ball 6 fasten inthe gap 452 by embedding so as to enhance steadiness of solderingbetween the solder ball 6 and the mounting portion 401 of the conductiveterminal 4.

The conductive terminal 4 has the first wall 41, the second wall 42 andthe third wall 43. The conductive terminal 4 enhances steadiness oflocating the solder ball 6 by the L-shape space defined by thehorizontal portion 45 extending from the first wall 41 and the verticalportion 46 extending from the third wall 43. The gap 452 is definedbetween the vertical portion 46 and a side face of the horizontalportion 45 near the vertical portion 46 to provide tin of the meltingsolder ball 6 flows therein and enhance steadiness of soldering with thesolder ball 6.

Although the present invention has been illustrated and described withrespect to exemplary embodiment thereof, it should be understood bythose skilled in the art that the various changes, omissions andadditions may be made therein and thereto without departing from thespirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the appendedclaims.

1. A conductive terminal capable of being received in a terminal channeldefined in an insulative housing and between an electronic component anda circuit board, having a contact portion electrically connecting withthe electronic component and a mounting portion electrically connectingwith the circuit board via a solder ball, comprising: a first wall asecond wall connecting with the first wall in a certain angle and athird wall connecting with the second wall in a certain angle andopposite to the first wall, and the mounting portion comprising ahorizontal portion extending and bending from one end of the first walltoward the third wall and an vertical portion on the third wall andcorresponding to the horizontal portion in a certain angle, thehorizontal portion and the vertical portion adhering to the solder ballin two different directions so as to steadily locate the solder ball. 2.The conductive terminal of claim 1 in which the horizontal portiondefines a recess in the surface of connecting with the solder ball so asto receive the solder ball.
 3. The conductive terminal of claim 1 inwhich a gap is defined between the vertical portion and a side face ofthe horizontal portion near the vertical portion and when the solderball melts, tin flows into the gap.
 4. The conductive terminal of claim1 in which the contact portion comprises a first spring arm formed onone side of the first wall and a second spring arm formed on one side ofthe second wall corresponding to the first spring arm, and the firstspring arm and the second spring arm form a spring receiving structureto connect with the electrical component.
 5. The conductive terminal ofclaim 1 in which one end of the second wall forms a handle.
 6. Anelectrical connector for connecting between an electronic component anda circuit board via a plurality of solder balls soldering onto thecircuit bard, comprising: an insulative housing forming a mountingsurface adjacent to the circuit board and a receiving surface forsupporting the electronic component, the insulative housing defining aplurality of terminal channels extending through the mounting surfaceand the receiving surface; and a plurality of conductive terminalsrespectively received in the corresponding terminal channels, theconductive terminal having a first wall, a second wall connection withthe first wall and a third wall connecting with the second wall oppositeto the first wall a horizontal portion extending and bending from oneend of the first wall adjacent to the mounting surface toward the thirdwall, and an vertical portion extending from the third wall andcorresponding to the horizontal portion in a certain angle, thehorizontal portion and the vertical portion forming a mounting portionto steadily locate the solder ball.
 7. The electrical connector of claim6 in which the horizontal portion of the conductive terminal defines arecess in the surface of connecting with the solder ball so as toreceive the solder ball.
 8. The electrical connector of claim 6 in whichthe horizontal portion and the mounting surface of the insulativehousing are approximately in a same plane, and the vertical portion isextending out of the mounting surface.
 9. The electrical connector ofclaim 6 in which a gap is defined between the vertical portion and aside face of the horizontal portion near the vertical portion, and tinof the melting solder ball flows into the gap.
 10. The electricalconnector of claim 6 in which the conductive terminal comprises a firstspring arm formed on one side of the first wall adjacent to thereceiving surface and a second spring arm formed on one side of thesecond wall adjacent to the receiving surface, and the first spring armand the second spring arm are adjacent to form a spring receivingstructure.
 11. The electrical connector of claim 6 in which one end ofthe second wall of the conductive terminal forms a handle adjacent tothe receiving surface.